Eating Elephants

The other day I did not work on any jewelry. I wouldn't sit at my work table, I convinced myself I just wanted a reading day. But really, I know it was because I was afraid. I was shying away from the stress of not doing well, of not being sure of my designs. I've done this before, I get good at a hobby then stop practicing it because it becomes too stressful. Because when I get good at something, I must then always succeed at it. If I don't, then I'm not as good as I thought I was. It becomes not a hobby, but a stress inducing test of my skill and art. Not fun. Why do I turn something enjoyable into an evaluation of my worth?

I'm a perfectionist. I have a tendency to dislike my older pieces, constantly reevaluating them against my newer abilities. But that's a part of art that I should embrace - the desire to keep learning, to keep pushing forward. Why can't we strive for a new skill without demeaning our previous endeavors? It reminds me of Margaret Salinger's book Dream Catcher - she described her father's tendency towards perfection or obliteration. She illustrates this with the question,

"How do you eat an elephant?

The correct answer: First, cut it into little pieces.

The Salinger answer: Drag it deep into a cave, all alone, and attempt to swallow it whole.

Or, declare that anyone who would eat an elephant is beneath contempt and then stalk off in the other direction."

I'm tired of eating elephants alone. Of not allowing myself to admit defeat, to admit fault or even fear of failure. So here goes, I can admit this to you internets, but I probably can't utter it aloud. I'm going to go upstairs and work on some jewelry. I'm afraid I don't have any fresh ideas today. I'm afraid I won't create something today. But I'm going to try.

Thinking Outside the Big Box

So I'm driving through town today and notice that the little tea shop has closed. That just bums me out - there are way too many vacancies in our adorable downtown and I hate to see another small business bite the dust - especially one that did so much renovation and beautification of main street. But I ask myself, hey self, did you go to that tea shop? Did you support this little business whose demise you mourn? Why no, self, I did not. It really made me think about supporting my local stores, shops and artists. They don't exist just to make the town look postcardesque and quaint.

I know, everyone talks about thinking outside the big box of corporate America - and that's great and all, but really, honestly, we all shop at Walmart, Target, Toys R Us, etc - we have to. We're trying to have a civilization here. But when we can, we really have to try to remember the little guys. Of course, I'm a little guy - one teeny jeweler in a sea, an ocean of jewelry designers on etsy. So of course I tend to think about the fate of us independent artists. But this holiday season, I'm going to continue supporting my fellow artists on etsy, but I'm going to remember my local businesses as well.